Originally posted by grapplehoeker:

Copper is actually one of the easiest ores to identify.
Why not explore a bit more, find some large deposits and build a base there to both mine ,smelt and craft it. Set up a portal to anywhere else and you'll never have to run around again ;)

Originally posted by vinyblaster:

Black Forest contains a ton of copper deposits. Share your seed with a BF with only 2 deposits or it didn't happen.

As for transportation, portals, boats and carts are your friends.

Originally posted by It's Shas:

Its a valid point and really understandable when you consider that you should play this with several people. And even then its grindy.
What helps no matter if you are alone or in a group, set up a small camp site at the copper deposite (roofed workbench) to repair your antler pickaxe (you can repair only the antler pickaxe on a workbench, the higher one needs the smithy) and place a few fire places in your work area.

I mean even when mining the ore its RNG. I have had times where I destroy a whole rock of copper and i don't get any drops. When I destroy it from the top I get copper but when I destroy it from underneath the drops seem to be random. Feels like this game just purposely wastes your time.